HP CM Sukhu pays tribute to Dr. Kalam on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary on October 15, 2026, honouring the 'Missile Man of India's' enduring contributions to science and national defence.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhu posted a tribute from the official Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office account on October 15, 2026 .
Abdul Kalam served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007 and is widely known as the 'Missile Man of India.' Sukhu praised Kalam's role in strengthening India's scientific and defence capabilities.
The tribute reflects a cross-party national tradition of honouring Kalam on his birth anniversary every October 15 .
Sukhu has served as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh since December 2022 , representing the Indian National Congress.
On the birth anniversary of one of India's most celebrated scientist-statesmen, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu offered his respects to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Thursday, October 15, 2026, honouring a legacy that reshaped India's scientific and defence identity.
Posting from the official Chief Minister's Office account, Sukhu wrote: 'महान वैज्ञानिक एवं पूर्व राष्ट्रपति डॉ. ए.पी.जे. अब्दुल कलाम जी की जयंती पर उन्हें सादर नमन' — 'Respectful salutations to the great scientist and former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary.' He added that Kalam's contribution to strengthening India's scientific and defence capabilities 'will always be remembered.'
The man who built India's missile shield
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam served as India's 11th President from 2002 to 2007, but it was the decades before that defined his mythology. As the chief architect of India's integrated guided missile development programme, he earned the title 'Missile Man of India' — and with it, a rare cross-party reverence that outlasted his presidency and his lifetime. His was a story that resonated far beyond laboratories and launch pads: a boy from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, who rose to the highest constitutional office in the land purely on the strength of scientific vision. That arc — humble origins, national service, institutional integrity — is precisely why his birth anniversary draws tributes from every corner of the political spectrum, year after year.A pattern of cross-party commemoration
Sukhu's tribute follows a well-established tradition. Indian state governments, regardless of political affiliation, mark October 15 with public acknowledgements of Kalam's contributions to science and defence. For a Congress-governed state like Himachal Pradesh, the gesture underscores that Kalam's legacy sits above partisan lines — a shared national inheritance rather than any one party's claim. The Himachal Pradesh CM, who has led the state since December 2022, keeps the message tight and dignified — a salute to science, to service, and to a presidency that reminded a billion people what public life could look like at its best.Point of View
Invoking Kalam's scientific nationalism also subtly reinforces a development and institution-building identity. The cross-party uniformity of October 15 tributes speaks to how post-independence India constructs its pantheon of secular, meritocratic heroes — figures whose stories the state can retell without ideological friction.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 , and his birth anniversary is observed nationally every year on that date.
Why is Dr. Kalam called the Missile Man of India?
Dr. Kalam earned the title 'Missile Man of India' for his pivotal role in developing India's integrated guided missile development programme, which gave the country its indigenous ballistic missile capability.
Who is the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh?
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of the Indian National Congress has been the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh since December 2022 .
Which number president was Dr. Kalam?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India , in office from 2002 to 2007 .
Why do Indian state governments tribute Kalam every year?
Indian state governments across party lines mark October 15 to acknowledge Kalam's contributions to science, defence, and his inspirational personal story — a tradition that reflects his status as a rare, non-partisan national icon.
